Fred Bliss

[5 JAN 1931 - D1 - 20352]

Donna and Lt. Col, (Ret.) Fred Bliss wave at passing vehicles saluting his 90th birthday. Retired Army Lt. Col. Fred Bliss sang along when musicians played military tunes Tuesday afternoon. The music was part of an outdoor salute for the veteran's 90th birthday. Bliss, a 1955 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, waved from Eastgate Village Retirement Center's sidewalk as a dozen vehicles passed by. Drivers honked. Passengers waved. American flags and congratulatory signs adorned the vehicles.

"This is wonderful," Bliss said. "It's beyond the call of duty to get out in this cold air." Bliss sat bundled up in blankets. Family members and Eastgate staff wore protective face masks as they surrounded him. A band featuring six Muskogee High School drummers and Muskogee Community Band musicians played "The Army Goes Rolling Along," "America the Beautiful" and songs of the armed forces. They also played the Muskogee and Tahlequah High School fight songs, which are the same tune. "It was terrific," Bliss said.

Bliss grew up in Tahlequah and settled in Muskogee after retiring from the Army. He owned a concrete business. His daughter, Donna Bliss, waved to the passing vehicles. She had assembled the caravan."It just means everything," she said. "First for him turning 90. But then to have this." She said about a dozen vehicles showed up, accompanied by a police escort. "And the Roughers, they made it," she said, referring to the musicians. Elada Kirk and Kim Stotts put American flags on their sport utility vehicle. Kirk recalled growing up with him in Tahlequah.

"He's a special person," Kirk said. "We wanted to do something special for him. [Muskogee Phoenix, 6 January 2021]

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Danny Dienst - Jim Bergen - Jim Cooper - Jim Ryan - Fred Bliss - Bob Shaffer [Durant - Choctaw Nation OK - NOV 2015]

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Jack Campbell - Fred Bliss - Danny Dienst
[Muskogee OK - OCT 2012]

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Fred Bliss - Paula and Jack Campbell - Nancy Joseph -
George Kennebeck [Pete Vann Funeral - JUN 2010]

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Fred Bliss
[Pete Vann Funeral - JUN 2010]

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Pete Vann - Danny Dienst - Joan Chance - Jack Campbell -
Fred Bliss [Bill Chance Services - SEP 2008]

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Danny Dienst - Jack Campbell - Joan Chance -
Pete Vann - Fred Bliss [SEP 2008]

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[50th Reunion Bio]

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Fred and Dorothy Bliss - Lou Tebodo -
Donne Olvey [50th Reunion]

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Dorothy and Fred Bliss
[50th Reunion]

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Fred Bliss and ?
[c2004]

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Bliss"
[c2003]

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Jim Drummond and Fred Bliss
[c2003]

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Fred and Jim Bliss
[DEC 2002]

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Gunderson - Secord - Drummond - Bliss
[c2002]

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Bliss - Sydenham - Anthis '54 -
Drummond [NOV 2001]

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Dinwiddie - Karam - Bliss - Bob Johnson -
Secord - Joe Franklin [c1999]

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E. J. O'Brien and Fred Bliss
[OK - APR 1998]

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Fred Bliss and E. J. Obrien
[OK - APR 1998]

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Jim Ryan and Fred Bliss
[c1997]

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Bliss' - and Fikaris"
[c1993]

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Dorothy Bliss - Fikaris' - Chuck Roades
[c1993]

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Bliss' and Angee Fikaris
[c1993]

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Auer - Bliss - Ordway - Ewing
[1991]

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[15th Reunion - 1970]
Row 8: Auer - McNair - Street - Wix - Row 7: Horst - Paul Parks - ? - Dugan - Grubbs - Domeck - Bliss - Row 6: Howie Stone - Newton - Booras - Strom - McDonald - Row 5: Fikaris - Schick - Gallup - Cardillo - Wheeler - Masson - Row 4: Katenbrink - Spellman - Joseph - ? - Schlotter - Row 3: Bergen - Fralen - ? - Andrews - Dunaway - Bob Johnson - Jim Ryan - Row 2: Bean - Strati - Soper - Jeter - Wiegand - Lenio - Price - Row 1: Prater - Thorsen - Meisenheimer - Reid - Zaborowski - Feagin - Joe Franklin

Larger Size

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D-1 Firsties - 1st Row: Dienst - Jim Ryan - Eddins - Cooper - Bergen - Newton - Tebodo (CO) - Lathrop - 2nd Row: Tennant - Shaffer - Pirtle - 3rd Row: Bill Parks - Grubbs - Bliss - 4th Row: Gottron - Zaborowski - Trawick - 5th Row: Price - Bell

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Green - Bliss - Norvell - Sechrist
[1st Bn Staff - 1st Regt]

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Shaffer - Jim Ryan - Dienst - Gottron
Bliss - Bergen - Trawick [D-1: Fort Knox - 1954]

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[1954 Army Football Team]

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Kaye Lathrop - Charles Symonds - Bob Newton - Danny Dienst -
Jim Bergen - Bill Parks - Fred Bliss [Joe King's Rathskeller - 1953]

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2015 AOG Online Register
(Updated JUL 2019)
Charles F. Bliss III Cullum No: 20352 Class of: 1955 Born: OK Appointment: Branch: Inf History: 20352 Charles Fred Bliss III B-OK: Inf: AdC AsstCmdt TIS 60-61: 101AbnDiv 62-63: Tac Dept USMA 63-66: MACV 66-67: CGSC 68: MSysAnalysis URochester 69: OCRD 70-72: 1DISCOM 72: Ret 74 LTC: VP Concrete Co 74

Register Glossary

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Dear classmates, wives and other friends of Fred Bliss,

I recently talked with Fred and Dorothy, and discovered that Fred has had a series, of what I call, mini strokes. This has rendered him unable to read or write text of any kind. He cannot communicate by cards, letters or emails. He hence cannot deal with the computer.

On the other hand his speech is good and his understanding of the spoken word is also good. He can receive telephone calls and truly enjoys chatting about the class, friends and the 'good old days'. By not being able to communicate in writing he is extremely frustrated, and I think he may be getting depressed. I call him several times per month just to keep in touch or whenever I have some news of the class or I am thinking of him. When I talk with him he seems to be cheered up, is his old friendly self and his memory is good (better than mine). He really has appreciated the calls myself and other classmates have made over the past several months.

We may be able to devise some additional way to communicate with him, but in the meantime, please give him a call, especially if you have some news of classmates or other news of interest to Fred, he will really appreciate it.

His number is: (918) 683-4179.

Danny Dienst
9 JUN 2014

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Dorothy Jane (Koch) Bliss
September 19, 1934 - February 18, 2017
Dorothy Jane (Koch) Bliss, 82, longtime resident of Muskogee, passed away early Saturday morning, February 18, 2017, with her family by her side. Born September 19, 1934, in New York, NY, to Henry and Irma (Grimm) Koch, she grew up in Mattituck and Flushing, NY. She attended the public schools and graduated from Bayside High School with the class of 1952. After high school, she furthered her education by attending Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.

On July 31, 1955, Dorothy married Charles Fred Bliss III in Tahlequah, OK. Together they have shared over 61 years of life and marriage together.

During Fred's active service in the Army, they were stationed at Fort Benning, GA, Fort Campbell, KY, West Point, NY, Fort Leavenworth, KS, Rochester, NY,
Washington, D.C. and Fort Riley, KS. Upon his retirement in 1974, they decided to move to Muskogee, OK, where they made their home.

Dorothy went to work at Viva's - an apparel and home accessory shop, which she purchased in 1982. For over 25 years, she owned Viva's and continued to work there with her daughter, Donna Bliss, until her retirement in 2011.

Her hobbies included family activities, reading, theatre, movies and her beloved pets. She is a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. Her favorite quote - 'True happiness - if you love to read, if you love nature and if you have a dog, you've got it made!"

She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Irma Koch.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Charles 'Fred' Bliss; her children, James Alan Bliss and Donna Ann Bliss; her grandchildren, James Curtis Bliss, Stephen 'Michael' Hart, Elizabeth Bliss Hart, Madeline Jane Hart, Daniel Bliss and Danna Bliss; and her 3 great grandchildren; many other family members and friends who will miss her.

A celebration of Dorothy's life will be 1:30 pm Wednesday, February 22, 2017, at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Reverend David Burris officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Hart, James Bliss, Billy Bliss, Chuck Purkey, Roy Flinn and Steven Stacks. Interment will be in Tahlequah City Cemetery in Tahlequah, OK.

The family suggests memorials be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church or PAWS.

Funeral services are under the direction of Cornerstone Funeral Home, 1830 N. York Street, Muskogee, OK. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.cornerstoneofmuskogee.com.

February 20, 2017

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